Arnold VFD - Events!

Arnold Volunteer Fire Department turns 60

BY JESSICA R. TOWHEY, Staff Writer

Even when they're not at work, the members of the Arnold Volunteer Fire Department like to say they're at work. The 18 firefighters on the volunteer roster willingly give their time to be ready to help the people of Arnold. In return, the community readily responds twice a year when the volunteer department solicits donations so it can buy equipment not funded by Anne Arundel County and pay for renovations to the fire station."You have to be pretty dedicated to wake up at 2 a.m. and chase a fire truck," said Bill Schriefer, an Arnold resident who has been part of the volunteer department for more than 40 years, talking about the commitment the volunteers exhibit. This year, the department celebrated its 60th anniversary with a dinner in April. Mr. Schriefer said the current crop of volunteers is not much different from the others who've passed through the Arnold station in the last 60 years.

While a few of the volunteer firefighters also hold full-time jobs in the county Fire Department, most work elsewhere and make time at night or on the weekends to volunteer.Wayne Handschur, a probationary firefighter who's been at the station for 1 years, works at the computer help desk for American Home Mortgage. Craig Serrin, who's been with Arnold for five months, pulls double duty as a waiter at Ruby Tuesday in the Marley Station Mall. He's been a volunteer firefighter for seven years.And John Rollhauser, who's been with the department for seven years, does video productions for the U.S. Department of Justice.

The three men, along with their fellow volunteers, all felt a desire to be part of something bigger than themselves.For Firefighter Handschur, the opportunity to volunteer comes close to a dream come true. Originally from New York, his grandfather was a volunteer firefighter on Long Island. The fire department also seemed like a fixture on his street, often responding to calls."I would see them all the time," he said. "When you hear a siren, you run and look. That never seems to change."Firefighter Handschur said hewouldn't be able to volunteer if not for the support of his wife, Denise, who doesn't mind him spending one or two nights a week at the station.

Volunteer Chief Chuck Kennedy - who doubles at the county fire department as Capt. Kennedy - said he likes volunteers to give 24 hours a month as a way to repay the county for the training and fire-fighting gear they receive free of charge."Most people give a lot more than that," Chief Kennedy said. "Some people almost live here while others come down when their wives let them.

"Founded in 1943, the original mission of the Arnold Volunteer Fire Department still holds today. Then, the department employed two professional drivers and the volunteers would come in to relieve them during the week and on holidays, said Mr. Schriefer, who joined the department a few years after its founding.Now, the department has 15 paid firefighters but the volunteers still come in to lend a hand and cover when the career staff is on a run."They're here one-third of their lives," Chief Kennedy said of the career firefighters. "We're here to support them.

"Just as the volunteer firefighters back up the career staff, the volunteer department has a small army of people who do administrative work.Sandy Rowlett, who's been with the department for one year, one month, three days and four hours - but who's counting, she laughed - spends about 10 hours a month going through paperwork, handling correspondence and filing department minute meetings.She and other volunteers also set up lunch in January when the volunteer department ran a house-burning practice in Cape St. Claire."I just wanted to help out," Ms. Rowlett said. "I'll do what I want, when I want."And in the meantime, she'll be freeing up the volunteer firefighters from doing the office work so they can spend their time fighting fires, responding to accidents and helping people.

For more information about the Arnold Volunteer Fire Department or to volunteer, visit www.arnoldvfd.com or call 410-757-5942.

jtowhey@capitalgazette.com

Updated 7/31/2003